Hen&#39;s nest.



A. D. CRosLBY. HENS NEST, APPLICATION FILED APB. 28, 190B.

Patented Oct-27, 1908.

ALBERT D. CRGSLEY,

OF JEWELL, IOWA.

HENS NEST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

Application led April 28,- 1908. Serial No. 429,769.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ALBERT D. CRosLnY, a citizen of the United States,residing at J ewell, in the county of Hamilton and State of Iowa, haveinvented a new and useful Hens Nest, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to hens nests.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved generalconstruction of such a nest whereby the laying hen may have free accessthereto during the period of laying and the sitting hen may have freeaccess thereto during the period of incubation while the laying hen isstopped from access to the nest during the time of sitting.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means for attachmentto a sitting hen whereby certain mechanism'in the hens nest may beoperated, While the laying hen, unprovided with such mechanism isrefused access to the nest.

The invention consists of certain improvements in hens nests comprisinga door therefor with a locking means and a means adapted to be securedto a hen to actuate said locking means.

The invention further consists of certain novel details of arrangementand combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and specifically set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate likeparts throughout the several views and Figure 1 is a longitudinalsection of a hens nest in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is adetail perspective view of the improved `door to be used therewith. Fig.3 is a detail of the mechanism whereby the locking device is actuated.

The numeral 10 indicates the body of the nest which is provided at thebottom with a nest pan 11.

In the nest here shown there are provided two entrances as indicated at12. In each of these entrances there is a shaft 13 supported at theupper part thereof to osoillate therein. Mounted on the shaft 13 are twoseries of 1ingers 14 and 15, the series being disposed in angularrelation to each other and forming a pair of doors. FiXedly mounted oneach of the shafts 13 are rock-arms 16. Pivotally supported near thefloor of the entrance 12 is a platform 17 which is connected to therock-arm 16 by means of a rod 18. Beneath the platform 17 and normallyrholding the same raised is a spring 19. In front of the platform 17 isa stationary platform 20. In front of the platform 2O is a roller 21provided with a series of spaced fingers 22 arranged to project upwardfrom said roller. Attached to the roller 21 are arms 23 provided with across bar as indicated at 24. This roller is so arranged that the hookend of the arm 23 will engage one of the fingers 14 when the door is inthe position indicated at the left of Fig. 1 and the arm 23 is raised.

In order to actuate the device there is provided a clog 25, which ispreferably in the form of a cork or the like. The clog 25 is of suchsize as to engage the finger 22 on the roller 21 when drawn thereto andthus actuate the roller. Attached to the clog 25 is a cord 26 which issecured as at 27 to the leg of a sitting hen.

In the operation of this device, let it be assumed that the conditionsareintended for those of a laying hen. The arrangement of the parts willthen be that shown on the right of Fig 1, 'where it will be noticed thatthe locking device is inoperative. The door in this figure is in theposition in which it would be were the hen in the nest. N ow let it beassumed that the hen desires to leave the nest. She rises and steps uponthe platform 17 and through the action of the rod 18 the shaft 13 isrevolved, thus opening a passageway to the eXterior of the nest. As thehen passes out she revolves the shaft a slight amount further by reasonof striking the fingers 15. She then. steps off of the platform 17 andby the action of the spring 19 the door is revolved to the positionshown to the left of Fig. 1. Should she again desire to renter the nestthe reverse of this operation takes place.

Now let it be supposed that it is desired to keep all but the sittinghen out of the nest. This hen is equipped with the clog 25 and upon herpassing out of the nest the clog assumes the position shown to the leftof Fig. 1, the roller 21 being actuated by the clog 25 striking againstthe fingers 22. If another hen now desires to obtain admission to thenest it is rendered impossible by reason of the hook 24 engaging thefingers 14, but if the sitting hen returns the clog 25 again engages thefinger 22 and reverses the action of the roller 21 thus relieving thehook 24 from the fingers 14. The platform 17 then falls down in themanner previously described and the sitting hen is permitted. freeaccess to the nest. lt is thus seen that there is herein provided asimple and efficient device of the character described, whereby thelaying hen may be permitted free access to the nest during the period oflaying and estranged from such access during the period of incubation,while the sit-ting hen is permitted access during the last named period.

lt is obvious that many minor changes may be made in the form andconstruction of this device without departing from the principlesthereof. lt is not therefore desired to confine the invention to theexact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include allsuch as properly comes within the sco e of the invention.

t is obvious that this device may be applied to any form of nests, asfor instance a barrel may be equipped with entrance constructed in.accordance with this device or an ordinary box may be so constructed.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is 1. ln a device of the kind described,a nest, a door thereto, means adapted to be actuated by a fowl foropening and closing said door, means for locking said door from openingand means for attachment to a fowl to operate said locking means.

2. ln a device of the kind described, a nest, a door thereto comprisinga shaft having a plurality of series of parallel fingers attachedthereto, means adapted to be actuated by a fowl for opening and closingsaid. door, means for locking said door' from opening and means forattachment to a fowl to operate said locking means.

3. ln a device of the kind described, a nest, a door thereto comprisinga shaft having two angularly disposed series of parallel fingers mountedthereon, means adapted to be actuated by a fowl for opening and closingsaid door, means for locking said door from opening and means forattachment to a fowl to operate said locking means.

4. In a device of the kind described, a nest, a door thereto comprisinga shaft having a plurality of series of arallel fingers attachedthereto, a platform ringed below said shaft, a rock-arm on said shaft, arod connecting said rock arm and platform, a spring normally holdingsaid platform raised but ada ted to be strained by the weight of a fowand permit said platform to be depressed, means for locking said doorfrom opening and means for attachment to a fowl to operate said lockingmeans.

5. ln a device of the kind described, a nest, a door thereto, meansadapted to be actuated by a fowl for opening and closing said door, aroller rovided with a series of spaced arms, a loci for said dooractuated by said roller, and a clog adapted to be attached to a fowl torotate said roller and actuate the lock.

6. In a device of the kind described, a nest, a door thereto, comprisinga shaft having a plurality of series of fingers attached thereto, meansadapted to be actuated by a fowl for o ening and closing said door, aroller provided with a series of spaced arms, a lock for said dooractuated by said roller, and a clog adapted to be attached to a fowl torotate said roller and actuate the lock.

7. ln a device of the kind described, a nest, a door attached theretocomprising a shaft having two angularly disposed series of parallelfingers mounted thereon, a ioller provided with a series of spaced arms,a lock for said door actuated by said roller and a clog adapted to beattached to a fowl to rotate said roller and actuate the lock.

8. In a device of the kind described, a nest, a door thereto comprisinga shaft having a plurality of series of parallel fingers attachedthereto, a platform hinged below said shaft, a rock arm on said shaft, arod connecting said rock arm and platform, a spring normally holdingsaid platform raised but ada ted to be strained by the weight of a fowand permit said platform to be depressed, a roller provided with aseries of spaced arms, a lock for said door actuated by said roller, anda clog adapted to be attached to a fowl to rotate said roller andactuate the lock.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, l have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT D. CROSLEY. vWitnesses R. W. DE LA, FRED SNYDER.

